DALLAS – – Kevin Jennings passed for a career-high three touchdowns and Kobe Wilson returned one of three SMU interceptions from 82 yards for a score as the Mustangs defeated Florida State 42-16 on Saturday night before a sellout crowd in their ACC debut.

Jennings threw TD passes of 11 and 15 yards to RJ Maryland and a flea-flicker score of 42 yards to Jordan Hudson.

“It means a lot to come in and get a ‘W’ against any team,” Jennings said, “but for the ACC (opener), it’s a home game and a packed stadium. It means a lot to the city of Dallas .”

Former President George W. Bush, a Dallas resident, performed the pre-game coin toss.

Jennings went 16-for-23 and passed for a career-best 254 yards. After the flea flick, Roderick Daniels Jr. turned. immediately turned around and flipped the ball back to Jennings. He delivered a pass up the middle to Hudson, who backpedaled at 10 and slowly reached the end zone.

Wilson made the interception between the hash marks, ran to the right sideline, broke a tackle near midfield and interfered with a teammate while being escorted to the end zone.

“I just saw green grass and then I saw some people coming towards me, so I got scared,” Wilson said. “I thought I was going down, but I ended up in the end zone. It was like the blink of an eye.”

Brashard Smith and Roderick Daniels Jr. scored rushing touchdowns for the Mustangs (4-1, 1-0) from 13 and 2 yards, respectively. Daniels’ score ended a drive that continued when FSU’s Omarion Cooper was called for a facemask penalty on the Mustangs’ punt from their 26-yard line.

Smith, a transfer this year from Miami, led SMU with a season-high 129 yards rushing despite sitting out most of the second quarter with an injury.

The Mustangs’ 467 yards were the most against the defending conference champions this season.

DJ Uiagalelei went 12-for-30 for 222 yards, three interceptions and TD passes of 9 yards to Kentron Poitier and 20 yards to Landen Thomas for Florida State (1-4, 1-3). Uiagalelei was replaced by Brock Glenn in the closing minutes.

The Seminoles also scored on a safety in the final seconds of the half when long snapper Will Benton IV, forcing a punt from SMU’s 9, sailed the ball over Isaac Pearson’s head and past the end zone.

Florida State has lost at least three of its first four games for the third time in coach Mike Norvell’s five seasons.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida State continues to struggle locally. The Seminoles entered the game averaging 67.75 rushing yards per game, fourth fewest among FBS teams. They gained 75 on 26 attempts, averaging 2.9 yards per carry, and were led by Lawrence Toafili with 67 yards.

SMU leads FBS with five non-offensive touchdowns this season: two interception returns, two fumble returns and one punt return.

NEXT

Florida State will host Clemson on Oct. 5, where Uiagalelei played his first three collegiate seasons before spending 2023 at Oregon State.

SMU plays the first of three consecutive ACC road games against Louisville on Oct. 5.

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